Turkey Launches Third Wave of Attacks Against Kurdish Militants, Destroying 58 Targets in Northern Iraq

Illustration of Turkish unmanned fighter jets. (Twitter/@Selcuk)

JAKARTA - Turkey has proven its promise to target all Kurdish militants, after the suicide bomb attack that rocked Ankara at the weekend, making them determined to carry out attacks, including across the border in Syria and Turkey.

Most recently, the Turkish air force succeeded in destroying 58 targets related to the Kudistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.

"The third operation after Sunday's bombing was carried out in the Metina, Hakurk, Gara, Qandil and Asos regions in northern Iraq at 19.00 on Wednesday and many PKK militants were neutralized," the Defense Ministry said, using the term usually used for dead, reported Reuters, October 5.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced all Kurdish militant facilities in Syria and Iraq were legitimate military targets, in response to a weekend suicide bomb attack in Ankara, originating from Syria, detaining dozens of people suspected of having links to the PKK which is prohibited.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the attackers had entered Turkey via Syria and received training there, adding that Turkey's response would be "very appropriate".

"All infrastructure, superstructure and energy facilities belonging to the PKK and YPG, especially in Iraq and Syria, are from now on legitimate targets of our security forces, armed forces and intelligence units," he said.

Turkey itself has carried out several cross-border attacks into northern Syria in recent years, targeting the YPG militia considered to be affiliated with the PKK which is now based in northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, the YPG is the spearhead of the main ally of the US-led coalition against ISIS. The support of the United States and other allies, including France, for the YPG has worsened relations with Ankara.

"I recommend that third parties stay away from facilities and people who are members of the PKK and YPG," said Fidan, referring to American, Russian and French troops in the region.